On Bites: HELP! I was bitten by a dog/cat. Will I get rabies? What do I do?

If you are bitten by a dog/cat unknown to you (animal is a stray or you do not know if animal has an owner who vaccinates against rabies regularly), call the Animal Bite Center Hotline at telephone # 816-1111.

3. The animal has to be observed for signs of rabies for 10-14 days (DO NOT KILL THE ANIMAL). Please work with a vet and/or your LGU, barangay or city vet regarding observation.

If you are bitten or nipped by your pet and you have not been properly vaccinating your pet, please follow the steps mentioned above.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

Animal Bite Center Hotlinecontact #: 816-1111

Dept. of Health's National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (DOH-NCDPC)contact #: 751-78-00 or 651-78-00 local 2352

IMPORTANT: Dogs and cats are not born with rabies.

Dogs and cats do not bite for no reason unless they are provoked (i.e., if the human was not able to read or understand the warning signs) or unless they are rabid. Dogs and cats get rabies when they are exposed to other rabies-infected animals.

How to decrease the chances of being infected with rabies?

FOR PET OWNERS:

1. Make sure your pets are vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian every year against rabies. This is required by law every year due to the incidence of rabies in the country. Please work with your trusted vet regarding the vaccination schedule of your pets. Puppies can be vaccinated when they are at least 3-months old.

2. Spay/neuter your pets. Spaying and neutering will help reduce the number of the abandoned and unwanted pets in your community. The consequences of stray and homeless animals' overpopulation is well-known. We all know what happens when homeless animals or strays visit our trash cans, defecate on our properties and worse, bite humans. Spaying/neutering also helps decrease hormone-related aggression.

3. Make sure your pets are not allowed to roam loose out in the streets and public places.

(a) Have their Dog regularly vaccinated against Rabies and maintain a registration card which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their Dog, for accurate record purposes.

(b) Submit their Dogs for mandatory registration.

(c) Maintain control over their Dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any Public Place without a leash.

(d) Be a responsible Owner by providing their Dog with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter.

(e) Within twenty-four (24) hours, report immediately any Dog biting incident to the Concerned Officials for investigation or for any appropriate action and place such Dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian.

(f) Assist the Dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim's injuries